Page 11 of Unhallowed

But I see the way her eyes betray her, lingering on my body. Especially on my torso, at my snake tattoos, the brand on the left side of my chest—the skull with the snake coming out of the eyes and mouth—that signifies my place in this cult.

We all have it. The Heathen tattoo right below my collarbones, the Eye of Providence right below it—an eye within a triangle with rays of sunlight. But her eyes trail lower, betraying her, and they linger on my abs, on the colorful devil tattoo right below at my sweatpants waistline that leads right to my cock. Then her eyes trail even lower. She swallows thickly, like she’s salivating at the sight. I harden immediately and her eyes widen.

“Careful, little demon.” I tsk. “I might get the wrong idea if you keep looking at me that way.”

She deflects. “What is that on your chest?” I look down, knowing exactly what she’s talking about but refusing to acknowledge it until she asks me directly. “The skull with the snake coming out of it?”

“A brand.”

“As in, someone burned you?” I nod. “Like cattle?”

“Exactly.” I grin, thinking of how right she is. Though we’re more like sheep being herded wherever The Fellowship says.

“Why?” She gulps. “Draven has it too.”

I hesitate, because how do I explain without giving it all away? “We’re part of something…bigger than ourselves.”

“He said as much, but just what the hell are you part of?”

“You could call it…a society.”A cult. “And once you’re married, you will also be part of it by association. We don’t exactly initiate women, since it’s an all-male society. But because of marriage, you’ll have certain knowledge of the ins and outs. Not everything, but enough to understand a lot of what happens.”

She nods as if she understands, but her confusion shows in her eyes.

“Draven and I are the sons of Silas Hansen. He is the Attorney General of the Department of Justice.”

“Like…The Cabinet?”

Smart girl.“Did you pay close attention to your government class?”

“Yes. I love anything related to the government.”

“Well, this society is part of that.” She may not love it for much longer. “They put us in positions of power, and in return we give back.”

“What do they give you?”

“Anything we want.” I chuckle at her curiosity. “Call it a scholarship. We get our tuition paid for in college—in full—and we also get accepted to whatever grad school we want.”

“And do youwantto go to grad school?”

“I’m already in graduate school right now. We all have to do it, we have no choice. One day I will be mayor of this city. Then Governor of Virginia.” I smile at her as she sets her empty bowl down on the bed, too engrossed in our conversation. “I’m studying law while Draven studies pre-law at Mystic University. That’s where we go, right here in Silent Grove, outside of the District. And he will be part of the Judicial branch of Virginia when everything is said and done, paving the way for us. Eventually, we will move up to the federal government. Think of us as the mafia, but fancier.”

She now nods in understanding, and this time I do believe she has understood at least a portion of it. “What is the District?”

“You have a lot of questions, don’t you?” I grin but humor her. “It’s a neighborhood where the elite of Silent Grove reside. All the politicians and their kids live here. We’re thirty minutes outside of D.C.”

“Like the capital?”

I grin. “Yes, little demon.”

“Stop calling me that.” Angel snaps and it makes me laugh, but she seems unaffected now. Yeah, she’s greedy for information. “And where do you live when you’re going to school? Here?”

“My house.”

“What about when Draven and I are married? Can I go to school there?”

“I don’t know about any of that.” But instead, I want to say: If you were my wife, I’d keep you hidden so no one can look at how pretty you are. I’d want you all to myself. “School is almost out for fall break for just a few days, but we have more important matters to attend to…like your marriage ceremony.”

Her eyes suddenly have a fearful look, and I tilt my head to the side. Does she not want to marry him? They seemed really cozy earlier. Her screams are still echoing in my head, and my cock threatens to go rock-hard again just imagining them again. What would she look like naked? Would her creamy skin bruise easily if I inflicted pain?Snap out of it.

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